Skate and skating surface

ABSTRACT

A SKATE ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR USE ON A RESIN SURFACE HAVING A LOW COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION TO SIMULATE ICE SKATING AND AN IMPROVED SKATING SURFACE FOR USE IN COMBINATION THEREWITH. TO PREVENT SIDE SLIP AND DEVELOP FORWARD THRUST AND PROVIDE FOR BRAKING, A FRICTION ELEMENT IS PROVIDED ON THE SKATE RUNNER WHICH MAY BE SELECTIVELY EFFECTIVE FOR THIS PURPOSE, BUT DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH FORWARD GLIDE. IT PREFERABLY COMPRISES A ROLLER ELEMENT WITH A   FRICTION RIM THAT IS EFFECTIVE ONLY WHEN THE SKATE IS MANEUVERED IS SUCH MANNER THAT THE ROLL PERIPHERY IS AT A PROPER ANGLE TO PREVENT FREE TURNING OF THE ROLL. THE SKATING SURFACE IS FORMED OF PANELS OF SHEETED REINFORCED POLYESTER CONTAINING ANTI-FRICTION, AND DESIRABLY ANTI-STATIC, ADDITIVES AND CURED UNDER HEAT AND PRESSURE.

Jan.- 5, 1971 H. s. NAGIN Y SKATE AND SKATING SURFACE 3. Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 7. 1969 Inventor Harry S. Nagin.

Attorneys.

Jan. 3, I971 H: s. N AGIN 3,552,746

Q 7 SKATE AND SKATING SURFACE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1969Inventor Harry $.Nagin. 9 W r %&/

Attorneys.

Jan. 5, 19'71 H. s. NAGIN 4 SKATE AND SKATING SURFACE Filed Feb. '1.1969 s Sheets-Sheet 5 1 I VENTORQ Harry inh BY WM/ Z Attorng UnitedStates Patent US. Cl. 272-3 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A skateespecially designed for use on a resin surface having a low coefficientof friction to simulate ice skating and an improved skating surface foruse in combination therewith. To prevent side slip and develop forwardthrust and provide for braking, a friction element is provided on theskate runner which may be selectively effective for this purpose, butdoes not interfere with forward glide. It preferably comprises a rollerelement with a friction rim that is effective only when the skate ismaneuvered is such manner that the roll periphery is at a proper angleto prevent free turning of the roll. The skating surface is formed ofpanels of sheeted reinforced polyester containing anti-friction, anddesirably anti-static, additives and cured under heat and pressure.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No.681,414, filed Nov. 8, 1967, and now Pat. No. 3,497,211 issued Feb. 24,1970 and the disclosure thereof is included herein by reference.

In my application above referred to, I have disclosed a skating surfacecomprised of cast synthetic resin compounded to have a low coefiicientof friction, comparable in fact to that of smooth ice. I have alsodisclosed for use therewith a skate to simulate ice skating, the skatealso having a runner with a low coefficient of friction. Since such askating surface and skate cannot function to provide thrust that isrequired for the skater to skate in the normal way or provide a brakingaction, such as one may develop with a metal skate cutting into the ice,it was proposed in said application to provide a friction element orelements on the skate that could be selectively used by'tipping theskate sideways or front end up to develop friction for forward travel orstopping, but which otherwise offered no resistance to the forward glideof the skate. I have since discovered that a more desirable skatingsurface can be provided by using panels of a synthetic resin compoundedwith anti-friction additives and cured under heat and pressure with thepanels laid edge-to-edge to form a skating area. I'have also discoveredthat such a skating surface may be impaired by its attraction forairborne dust particles, and that by the incorporation of an anti-staticingredient, trouble from this source may be reduced. Also, I have foundthat, while a braking or friction element as disclosed in saidapplication can be effective, a greatly improved control can be securedby the improved means for securing that result hereinafter disclosed.

In .the presently preferred embodiment of my invention, the action ofthe skate is improved by the provision on the runner of one or morerollers that rotate on axes transverse to the length of the skate, andwhich have rims of a rubber-like material, such as certain rubber-likepolyurethane elastomers. These rollers are so positioned that normallythey barely touch the skating surface and offer no impedance to theforward glide of the runner on the skating surface. However, when thefoot of the skater is angled in the normal manner of a skater instriking out 3,552,746 Patented Jan. 5, 1971 ICC to gain speed or tostop, these rollers are brought to bear more completely on the skatingsurface while they are crosswise or diagonal to the direction in whichthe skater is traveling, and therefore the thrust or braking effect isat least partially sideways to the axis about which the rollers turn.

The skating surface is preferably comprised of panels of a thermosettingresin cured under heat and pressure, and having incorporated thereinthermoplastic resins which reduce its coefficient of friction. Also ananti-static ingredient is included in the com-position. I have foundthat sheeted polyester with a curing agent as the base is desirable. Itcomprises about 33% polyester and a curing agent of any well-knowncuring agent for polyester, 30% =fiber glass or glass floc, 2% to 4%polyethylene, about -1% Teflon, and about 1% nylon or Delrin, or both,and the balance is filler. It may also contain or have applied theretoan anti-static compound. Many anti-static materials are known. Typically2% to 3% epoxalated fatty alcohol or quartenary ammonium compounds of afatty acid may be used to reduce the attraction of the skating surfacefor air-borne dust and particles that may otherwise tend to cling to theskating surface, especially out-of-doors skating rinks. The compoundedsheeted polyester is cured between about 250 and 500 pounds per squareinch at a temperature of the order of 300 F. The resulting panels areadhered to a level supporting surface in edge-to-edge contact,preferably by a non-hardening elastic adhesive generally known as avisco-elastic cement that holds the panels in place, but allows thermalexpansion and contraction to occur. Instead of incorporating ananti-static compound in the resin, it may be applied as a spray to thefinished surface and renewed from time to time.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a skate and skatingsurface on which skating simulating ice skating, but using syntheticresin is employed in place of ice.

My invention may be more fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a simple embodiment of one form of theskate of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the skate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical section in the plane of lineIIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation showing a modified construction;

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical section in the plane of line V\( of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 shows in side elevation a modification of FIGS. 1 to 3 in whichrollers are at spaced intervals along the skate runner;

FIG. 7 is a transverse section in the palne of line VIIVII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a transverse section in the plane of line VIIIV of PG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows another form of skate;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal section in the plane of line XX ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view in the plane of line XI-XI ofFIG. 9 but on a larger scale;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the skating surface; and

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal section in the plane of line XIIIXIII of FIG.12.

Referring first to FIGS. 12 and 13, there is shown a skating surface orrink embodying my invention. It is comprised of a base 2 which is formedof concrete having a smooth surface. It may desirably be gently slopedfrom its sides and ends from the outer edge toward the center. On thesurface of the base 2 are a sufficient number of individual panels 3- tocover the skating area of. the base. The panels are in edge-to-edgecontact and are held in place on the base by a visco-elastic cementspreadover the base before the panels are laid in position. The panelsare generally fiat, but where necessary to conform to the curvature atthe corners of the sloping end and side walls, they can be suitablycurved. However the skating surface may be formed of individual panelsof convenient size placed over any floor or adequate supporting surface.The sheeted plastic material hereinafter described may be adhesivelybonded to precast concrete panels of the same size and the compositepanels assembled in edge-to-edge contact over a floor or othersupporting surface.

Each of the panels is molded from sheeted preformed resinous material asabove described in mating dies to give them true edges and a smoothfinish. Each panel is about one-eighth of an inch in thickness, as inthis thickness the thermoplastic additives and anti-static material Willnot appreciably settle out, and the sheet will be thick enough forhandling. Instead of polyester the base plastic may be epoxy resin witha curing agent, any of several well known commercial grades of epoxyresin being suitable, commercial grades of epoxy resin of the typederived from the reaction of bisphenol and epichlorohydrin being themost common and preferable. Polyester is preferred because it is cheaperand adequate.

Desirably there are one or more ducts 4 surrounding the skating areathrough which air, water, or water and detergent, or both water and aircan be circulated, the duct having spaced orifices to blow air, whereair alone is used, across the skating surface to blow dust or foreignparticles toward a central outlet 5, or if water, with or withoutdetergent is used, to spray water onto the surface. In case both air andwater are used, separate ducts are desirable.

Skates as herein referred to are used in pairs, one on each foot, andwhere a single skate is referred to herein, it will be understood thatit is one of a pair.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive, there is disclosed a skate havingthe runner and its attachment to the shoe formed as an integral unit,but as will hereinafter appear, and as shown in the copendingapplication hereinbefore mentioned, it may be a composite structure. Therunner is designated 10, and as here shown it is a solid blade having anintegral platform 11 at the top by which it is attached to the bottom ofa skating shoe by screws in the usual manner. It is preferably comprisedof a strong reinforced resin having a low coefiicient of friction, suchas TEF (polytetrafluoroethylene) better known as Teflon, acetalhomopolymer, such as Delrin or nylon. The runner, however, may be formedof metal having a loW coefiicient of friction, such as a chromium platesteel runner, or high chrome stainless steel. The runner is about asthick as an ordinary steel skate blade, but its runner is not hollowground, and the corners are slightly rounded. Its shape is much the sameas the shape of an ordinary steel skate. This may be with a rockercontour common in figure skates, or a straighter runner, as with speedor hockey skates, the former being here shown. The coefiicient offriction of the runner is desirably lower than that of the skatingsurface. Its coefiicient of friction on steel is no greater than 0.1.

To prevent side slip of the skate to produce thrust or a braking action,one or more free-running rollers are carried by the runner. As shown inFIG. 1 there are two of these rollers, one at each side, and on longeror straighter skates there may desirably be two on each side located tothe front of and also near the transverse center of the blade. Actuallyrollers on the inside of the blade are needed, but by using them inpairs, separate right and left molds are not required.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are two such rollers. The rollers arecarried on a center pin 12 that passes through the runner, and which hasa head 13 at one end and a screw-threaded bore in the other end. Aheaded bolt 14 is screwed into this bore. There is a roller or wheelassembly designated generally as 15 on this pin,

one confined between the head 13, and the side of the skate runner, andthe other is confined between the head of the bolt 14 and the other sideof the skate runner. Preferably there is a slight boss on the runner ateach side thereof to hold the face of the roller clear of the blade.Also, for the sake of appearance and to provide a guard for each wheel,there is a skirt 1-6 molded on the runner at each side that is curvedand streamlined, and which provides a covering open only at the bottomtoexpose just a little of the peripheries of the respective wheels, thelower edges of these skirts terminating above the bottom edge of therunner. The pin 3 passes-these skirts as well as through the runner, andthe skirts each have a boss to hold the outer face of the wheel out ofcontact with the runner. The design of the .pin with the screw 14 issuch that pressure cannot be put on these skirts by the pin to bind thewheels, the pin being of a length to pass through both skirts, and thehead of the bolt abuts the end of the pin when it is screwed in as faras it will go.

Each roller or wheel comprises a roller bearing unit having an innerrace 17 with a center in which the pin has a sliding fit, an outer race18 of metal or plastic such as Nylon, and balls 19 between the tworaces. A tire 20 is vulcanized or otherwise fixed on the periphery ofthe outer race. This tire is formed of a moderately resilientrubber-like substance having a high coefiicient of friction and littleresilience. Several materials are available, including rubber, but Ihave found certain polyurethane elastomers to be preferable, such forexample as Flexin manufactured by Mobay Chemical Company, and acomposition having a higher coefficient of friction, even on wet plasticsurfaces, is a compound manufactured by Shell Chemical Company which isa styrene-butadiene copolymer sold under the trademark Thermolastic, butis is desirably reinforced with glass, nylon or other fibers to improveits strength. The tire tread 20 is preferably beveled outwardly at aslight angle so that the diameter is greatest at the side nearest theblade, that is, the inner edge of the roller.

The pin 11, which with a single pair of rollers is in a position forwardof the middle of the runner, being located about under the ball of thewear-ers foot, is so located, and the wheels are of such diameter thatthe roller just touches the skating surface at its inner edge, butwithout keeping the runner out of weight-supporting contact with saidsurface. As long as the skate is moving forward in the direction of itslength, the roller may spin freely and offer no resistance to the glideof the skate. If, however, the wearer turns the skate in a diagonaldirection to the forward travel, and in so doing, tilts the skate on itslongitudinal and transverse axes, as he naturally tends to do in iceskating to brake or get forward thrust, the friction surface is more orless crosswise of the direction of free rotation and will provide thedrag or friction to brake the forward travel or give the requiredthrust, depending on the leg action of the wearer.

While a single pair of rollers is shown forward of the middle of theskate, two pairs may be provided, one at about the center of the rocker,and one forward of the center, as hereinafter more fully described.

Rollers may be readily replaced by removing the bolt 5 and withdrawingthe pin. There may be times, especially for beginners, when slightlyoversize rollers could be used so that with a beginner, for example, therollers alone would contact the gliding surface, muchthe same as aroller skate, but with a narrow width, somewhat simulating an ice skate.After getting used to the skate, smaller wheels would be substituted sothat the skate would then glide on the runner and the wheels providenosupport. Since a skater normally bends his ankle inward, the rollers onthe inner side of the runner are the ones that come most into use. Oneor more might be used only on the inner side of the runner, but thiswould require right and left skates for each size of skate, and add muchto the cost of molds.

To enable the wearer to upend the skate and secure friction, there maybe a tip of the anti-friction material cemented or vulcanized onto thefront end of the runner, as indicated at 21 in FIG. 1. i

In FIGS. 4 and 5 there is shown a skate wherein the usual steel blade isprovided with a plastic runner formed of a" resinous low frictionmaterial similar to that above described. While this arrangement coulduse the rollers as herein described as friction elements, a differentform of friction element is also shown.

In these figures, designates the ordinary steel blade having a metalrunner 31. Fitted around the metal runner is an anti-friction plasticchannel 32, the bottom of which forms the skate runner, and the sides ofwhich are attached to the steel runner either by vulcanizing or by otherfastening meanssuch as rivets 33. The plastic anti-friction resinousmaterial may be of a composition similar to that described above inconnection with the runner in FIGS. 1 to 3. Secured to the toe of therunner is a friction element 34 of similar section to the channel 32,and which is secured to the toe of the steel skate in the same manner asthe anti-friction runner. In this case the friction material 34 is shownas extending further around the toe of the metal runner so that it maybe brought into contact with the skating surface by simply rocking theskate slightly. It may be desirable also to provide ribs 35 along thesides of the channel 32 further toward the rear of the skate which havebeveled undersurfaces that normally are clear of the skating surface,but which may be brought into contact with the skating surface byinclining the skating blade to one side or the other in the same mannerthat the rollers in 'FIGS. 1 to 3 are brought into contact with theskating surface. Unlike the rollers, however, these friction elements 34make no contact with the skating surface when the skate blade issubstantially vertical.

I have heretofore mentioned that rollers might be provided forwardly ofthe center of the skate and also at about the center of the rocker. Suchan arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. While rollers asshown in FIGS. 1 to 3 could be used, in these views I have shown analternative arrangement where the rollers are placed in recesses in theskate runner.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, 40'designates generally the runner of theskate with the platform 41 for attaching it to the shoe. As shown inFIG. 8, the blade throughout most of its section is about the thicknessof an ordinary skate runner as indicated at 42, but the bottom edges 43are rounded as previously described. The skate is of a rocker form, andat about the center of the rocker blade is arched or recessed upwardlyas indicated at 44, so as to divide the runner into forward and rearsections. Also at this point the blade widens out and is bifurcated asshown in FIG. 7 to provide a recess 45 in the center of the runner.There is a roller -46 similar to the rollers previously describedcarried on a pin assembly 47 which is also similar to that shown in FIG.3. The roller 46 is of such diameter and so positioned that itsperiphery just lightly touches the smooth skating surface as indicatedby the line S in FIG. 6, and only the lower portion of the periphery ofthe roller is seen between the spaced sides of the runner. A secondroller 48 is similarly arranged forwardly of the center of the skate ata level which is normally clear of the skating surface, but which isclose enough to the skating surface so that when the toe of the skate isrocked forwardly very lightly, will also contact the skating surface,and if the skate is tilted and turned sideways, as when a skater isstriking out to gain forward motion, or is turning his foot to stop, theroller 48, as well as the roller 46, will both act to brake the forwardglide of the skate.

Since the skate is quite sensitive to the presence of foreign matter onthe skating surface, a small brush 49 may be provided at the toe of therunner where it will always engage the skating surface S to remove smallparticles that may be in the line of travel, but the brush does notinterfere in any way with the skating.

By arching the runner upwardly near the center, the bearing surface ofthe runner on the skating area is reduced. Since friction is a functionof the area, the reduction of the area of contact is desirable without,however, impairing the simulation of ice skating.

In FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, I have shown a modification wherein the skate ismore of a speed skate than a figure skate. It has a metal runner ofsteel, designated generally as 50, with a platform 51 for attaching itto the skating shoe. The bottom or skating edge has two similar arches52 and 53 therein so that the runner normally contacts the skatingsurface at three separate places, 54, 55, and 56, these being rounded ina fore-and-aft direction, so that the length of each contact surface isquite short, being almost tangent to the skating surface, indicated byline AA. A coating of Teflon or Teflon reinforced with glass floc isapplied to the runner and baked on at each of these contact areas, thestippled areas 57 in the drawing indicating such anti-friction coatingon the runners. The ratio of glass fiber or floc to Teflon in thecoating may vary, about 12% being the optimum, but it may be as high as20% and still provide a good gliding contact.

In place of Teflon or other low friction plastic, the surface coating onthe runner may be of a glass-like nature. One such material that can beapplied as a coating and has low friction on plastic is available underthe name Tufran.

The arched portions 52 and 53 are split and the sides spread to provideoutwardly-flared sides 58 with a central cavity between them in which isprovided a roller 59 having a friction rim 60, the roller and itsmounting being the same as described in FIGS. 6 and 7, but of courserollers as described in FIG. 3 might also be used.

At the nose of the runner there is shown a bifurcated bracket 65 rivetedto the nose of the skate runner. It carries a transverse pin 66 with asmall roller 67 at each end thereof. These rollers have a facing and rim68 of a high friction material as previously described. These rollers,like roller 48 in FIG. 1, are so located that they are entirely clear ofthe skating surface except that when the skater uses the toe of hisskate with his foot turned somewhat sideways and the skate inclined withrespect to the skating surface in getting speed or stopping. The rollersor wheels 59 bear only slightly on the skating surface, as previouslydescribed, so that the weight of the skater is where the runners contactthe skating surface (except perhaps for slight compression of therubber-like rim) and the wheels are used only to provide thrust orbraking action when the skater turns his foot somewhat sideways.

The use of wheels or rollers as herein described are preferable asfriction elements. They of course may be used in conjunction withfriction elements as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and this is so whether therollers are in the center of the blade as in FIGS. 6 to 8 inclusive, orwhether they are at the side of the blade as described in connectionwith FIGS. 1 to 3. Even though the rollers may contact the skatingsurface, the fact that the tire on the rim is slightly resilient allowsthe runner to glide on the skating surface so that the sensation is oneof gliding and the skate is not a roller skate in the sense that wheelscarry the load of the skater.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the skate may be formed entirelyof a resin, or it may be metal such as stainless steel or chrome-platedsteel, or may be metal with an attached plastic skating edge, or it maybe metal with an applied thin coating of an anti-friction material suchas Teflon. To the extent that the modifications herein described areapplicable, they may be interchanged, as for example in FIG. 4 thecoating could be used in place of the formed plastic channel, or thenose piece 21 of FIG. 1

could be used in place of the bracket and roller arrangement of FIG. 9,etc.

I claim:

1. A skate for use on a low friction plastic skating surface comprising:

(a) a runner having a skating edge with a low coefiicient of friction onthe skating surface,

(b) a friction element on the runner normally ineffective to impedeforward glide of the skate but arranged to frictionally engage theskating surface by controlled movement of the skate from a normalgliding position and comprising a free-turning wheel rotatable on anaxis transverse to the length of the runner, the wheel having a rim of amaterial having a high coefficient of friction on plastic as compared tothat of the runner.

2. A skate as defined in claim 1 in which the wheel has its periphery atthe bottom substantially flush with the skating edge.

3. A skate as defined in claim 1 in which the rim of the wheel iscomprised of an elastomer.

4. A skate as defined in claim 1 wherein said freerunning wheel islocated intermediate the front of the runner and the middle thereof.

5. A skate as defined in claim 4 in which there is a second similarwheel located near the middle of the runner.

6. A skate as defined in claim 4 wherein the edge of the runner curvesupwardly from a plane and the first wheel is located in the upwardlycurved portion and its periphery is clear of a horizontal plane surfacewhen the mid portion of the runner rests on such a surface and contactssuch surface only by tilting the runner to incline the rear portionupwardly with respect to a horizontal plane, said second wheel beingpositioned to contact a plane horizontal surface when the mid portion ofthe runner in front of and to the rear of said second wheel is incontact with a horizontal plane surface.

7. A skate as defined in claim 1 in which the skate has a skating edgeseparated into sections with a friction element between sections, eachsection having a coating of anti-friction material adhered thereto overthe gliding surface thereof, said friction elements being inoperablewhen the skate is in normal gliding position on the surface over whichit moves, but which are arranged to frictionally engage said surface bycontrolled movement of the skate from a normal gliding position.

8. The combination with a skating surface comprised of a thermosettingresin having thermoplastic self-lubricating resin combined therewith, ofa skate having a runner. with an edge that slides easily on saidsurface, and a friction element on the runner for controllably resistingsliding movement of therunner on said surface.

9. The combination defined in'claim 8 wherein the skating surfacescomprise panels arranged in edget -edge relation and a supporting baseon which the panels are secured, the panels comprising polyester resincured under heat and pressure and having incorporated therein glass"fiber reinforcing and having thermoplastic resin incorporated thereinselected from the group comprising nylon, Teflon and Delrin. I v I 10.For use as a gliding surface, a panel cured under heat and pressurecomprised of polyester about 33%, glass fibers 30%, 2% to 4%polyethylene, about 1% Teflon, and about 1% of a resin selected from thegroup consistf ing of nylon and Delrin, with the balance being an inertfiller.

11. For use as a gliding surface, a panel as defined in claim 8comprising also about 2% to' 3% of an anti-static compound. '7

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 40,807 12/186'3 Bailey 280-11.1240,921 12/1863 Feurstein '280-l 1.12 150,896 5/1874 See 280-l1.122,150,964 3/1939 Dornseif 28011.18 2,555,078 5/1951 Gaylor 280- 11.l2X3,224,763 12/1965 Hall 272-565 3,291,486 12/1966 'Applegath et al.272-565 3,395,928 8/1968 Eglit 28011.13

FOREIGN PATENTS 659,340 5/ 1938 Germany.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner M. L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner U.S.Cl. X.R. 943; 28011.12

